Naked cyclists in the Mall

As eye-catching stunts go, stripping off all your clothes and then pedalling naked past stunned pedestrians in London must rank highly.

That is precisely what 800 people did last Saturday in a ‘flesh’- mob in the sunshine.

The naked bike ride along streets in the capital city was in protest against what protesters said is the rule of motor vehicles on London’s roads.

Heading out from Wellington Arch to the Mall and then back again, the cyclists were shed their inhibition in aid of sustainable transport.

“It is about putting cycling and pedestrians first, instead of last,” said a spokesman for the World Naked Bike Ride.

But how effective as a form of protest is shedding all your clothes?

“Everyone usually just gets out their camera phones and starts taking pictures. Many people who saw probably did not know what was going on.”

There was a serious purpose to eighth annaul bicycle flash-mob, insisted the spokesman.

“It shows the vulnerability of cyclists in traffic and it’s also tge only times when motorists see cyclists in the road. One of our signs read ‘Can you see me now?’

“It can be very dangerous in London for cyclists. Blue cycle lanes can be disasterious, because the cyclist assumes they’re safe within it, while motorists don’t pay any attention.”

“It certainly draws attention, but not from the long arm of the law.

A Metropolitan Police spokesman said no arrests were made for offences relating to public nudity.

Being naked in a public place is not criminal offence, but it can become one when it causes offence. This usually rests upon whether there was intention to cause offence.